Running over a boulder foul

[Kevin Ray]

First off, a very much appreciate that refs are volunteers and as such should be granted a great deal of appreciation and blanket acceptance for their decisions. However, after having attended two regionals I feel that the intent of the rule and the letter of the rule are being missed too frequently. On dozens upon dozens of occasions penalties (G38 b) were called for intentionally moving a boulder to gain advantage when CLEARLY the driver was only attempting to drive with the boulder which they had in their possession to get to a defense to cross into the courtyard. The situation occurs all too often that another boulder happens to be in the direct path of the driver. Rather than driving around it as though it were a land mine, they merely push it off to the side and get flagged. Was an advantage gained? Possibly yes, BUT the caveat at the bottom of the rule clearly states that bulldozing balls in the way is not worthy of a penalty. I think that this interpretation needs to be emphasized at the drivers' meetings by the head ref. The intent of the the GDC in making the herding rule IMO was rather obvious but has since morphed into a "touch a second boulder and be flagged" situation.